Mark Webber's post-qualifying anger became joy on Sunday as the Red Bull driver leapfrogged his teammate Sebastian Vettel in the world championship standings.

Webber drove to commanding victory in the British Grand Prix. He slid by polesitter Vettel at the first corner, his young teammate then suffering a puncture in a light touch with Lewis Hamilton.

Vettel's first-corner incident was made worse by Webber edging him over the kerb on the exit of Copse.

"Is your question serious?" a frustrated Vettel, who finished seventh, told a BBC reporter when asked if he thought their fight was unfair.

Team boss Christian Horner saw no problem with the moves.

"No -- I was perfectly happy with how they worked together through the first turn," said the Briton.

But after the front wing saga of Saturday, there was some needle between Horner and Webber in their post-race radio exchange.

"Not bad for a number two driver," said the Australian, before Horner told Webber: "You can smile now."

Before the race, Webber had declared himself the "underdog", vowed to "to my best for the guys on my car", and admitted for the first time that he "wasn't too happy" about losing his new front wing to Vettel for qualifying.

After his thunderous face after qualifying, observers said Webber was unprecedentedly elated on the podium.

British legend Sir Stirling Moss said at Silverstone: "I think what Mark should do is say 'ok, give him (Vettel) the best parts, and I'll go out and beat him anyway'."

Albeit admitting that he might "act differently" in the event of a shortage of new parts at subsequent races, Horner said: "It's amazing how much fuss that one front wing can make."

Elsewhere, Spanish reports said Fernando Alonso was calm after the race, but BBC presenters announced the Ferrari driver was "too angry" to appear for an interview.

After his anger about Lewis Hamilton's penalty Valencia, at Silverstone it was Alonso with a drive-through penalty, for illegally overtaking Robert Kubica.

And when asked if Ferrari's post-Valencia reaction had angered the FIA and provoked Sunday's penalty, Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni described the question as "malicious".

Hamilton, second in Britain, is still the championship leader, 12 points ahead of his McLaren teammate Jenson Button, who drove through the field from 14th to 4th at the chequered flag.

(GMM)

Webber Flags Team Talks About 'Number 2' Treatment

Mark Webber is seeking talks with his Red Bull bosses after his bittersweet British Grand Prix weekend.

Although the Australian won the Silverstone race, he had been furious on Saturday when the new specification nose fitted to his RB6 was handed to Sebastian Vettel.

He told a reporter after winning on Sunday that if all his days in Formula One were like that, he would retire.

And in a reporters' scrum in the Silverstone paddock, the 33-year-old added: "I would never have signed a contract for next year if I believed that was the way going forward."

Webber said on his victorious slowing-down lap on Sunday that the performance was "not bad for a number two driver".

"Yesterday I wasn't happy, clearly, and I am sure we will have some pretty decent chats tomorrow," he told the press.

Webber and Vettel briefly shook hands ahead of a team photo on Sunday evening, but the German furrowed his brow when a reporter asked about the atmosphere behind closed doors.

"You get to know people probably a bit better and see their true faces. I think I learned my lesson, and I focus on myself," said the 23-year-old.

(GMM)

Ecclestone wants GP in World Cup nation South Africa

Bernie Ecclestone on Sunday said he hopes Africa will join the Formula One calendar "in about three years time".

On the day of the World Cup final, the F1 Chief Executive said plans are afoot for the construction of a new grand prix circuit in Cape Town.

During an interview at Silverstone with BBC Radio 5's Sportsweek, the 79-year-old said the success of the World Cup had convinced him that F1 should also be in Africa.

"It would be nice to have covered the world, but Russia is more important right now," the Briton explained.

"Africa is limited for all the people who are involved in F1 for business, whereas Russia is wide open.

"But we will see. We have been talking to the people in South Africa for quite a long time off and on. The chances are ok. It's a case of getting the right venue always," Ecclestone said.